A projector that illuminates a scene with multiplexed light patterns includes a passive physical mask, and a set of spatially dispersed optical emitters arranged behind the physical mask. The optical emitters are modulated to project a set of unique optical light patterns.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus for projecting optical patterns, comprising: a physical mask, in which the physical mask is passive; a set of spatially dispersed optical emitters arranged behind the physical mask such that light projected by the optical emitters through the physical mask is spatially modulated by the physical mask; and a processor operatively connected to the optical emitters and configured to temporally modulate the light projected by the optical emitters by changing intensity of the light, such that the optical emitters project a set of unique optical light patterns.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the set of optical emitters are dispersed linearly behind the physical mask.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the processor turns the optical emitters on and off one at a time.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the optical emitters are light emitting diodes.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is configured in such a way that the set of unique optical light patterns includes binary patterns.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , in which the binary patterns correspond to Gray codes.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the unique optical light patterns have a one-dimensional symmetry.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is symmetrical with respect to epipolar lines defined by the optical emitters.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is partially transparent to light and partially opaque to light.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is in a form of a diffraction grating.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is in front of a lenticular lens.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is a moiré pattern.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the physical mask is a parallax barrier.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the set of unique optical light patterns is directed by a mirror.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the set of unique optical light patterns is directed by a lens.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an optical sensor arranged in a scene, the optical sensor configured to detect the set of unique optical light patterns.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising: a microcontroller operatively connected to the optical sensor and configured to determined a position of the optical sensor based on the set of unique optical light patterns.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising: a microcontroller operatively connected to the optical sensor and configured to determined a motion of the optical sensor based on the set of unique optical light patterns.
19. An apparatus for projecting optical patterns, comprising: a physical mask, in which the physical mask is passive; a set of spatially dispersed optical emitters arranged behind the physical mask such that light projected by the optical emitters through the physical mask is spatially modulated by the physical mask; a processor operatively connected to the optical emitters and configured to temporally modulate the light projected by the optical emitters by changing intensity of the light, such that the optical emitters project a set of unique optical light patterns; an optical sensor arranged in a scene, the optical sensor configured to detect the set of unique optical light patterns; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the optical sensor and configured to determined a position of the optical sensor based on the set of unique optical light patterns.
20. A method for projecting optical patterns from a set of optical emitters, wherein the optical emitters in the set are spatially dispersed, comprising the steps of: arranging the set of optical emitters behind a passive mask such that light projected by the set of optical emitters through the passive mask is spatially modulated; and changing intensity of the light using a processor to temporally modulate the light projected by the optical emitters, such that the optical emitters project a set of unique optical light patterns.
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May 17, 2006
June 7, 2011
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